The early Christian church was a diverse and dynamic community. There are numerous Church Fathers, both mystical and ascetical. Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, and Tertullian are some of the most important and influential. However, many of their works were translated into other languages, such as Latin and Greek. The writings of the Church Fathers are considered essential to the study of theology and the history of the church.
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Mystical and ascetical church fathers
In modern theology, the mystical and ascetical Church fathers are separated from the patristic and ecclesiastical era. The upper boundary has little to do with the patristic and ecclesiastical understanding of spiritual guidance and has resulted in the exclusion of the period after the eighth century from studies of Scripture reception. In addition, the writings of the hesychastic movement are largely ignored.
Mysticism is a foundation of Orthodox philosophy and theology. Key positions of St Gregory Palamas were based on hesychastic mystical philosophy and theology. These positions include God is incomprehensible and only the pure can know Him. These two traditions are sometimes considered to be opposites. The mystical tradition reflects an attitude of realism and aversion to materialism.
Clement
In the late 1st century, Clement became a leading member of the church in Rome. Early church lists place him as the second or third bishop of Rome after Peter. He died in Greece in the third year of Trajan’s reign, and many scholars believe that he was ordained by St. Peter. However, his exact date of birth is unknown. There are also several questions about his life and writings.
The author does not spend a great deal of time attacking heresy, but does point out errors by heretics, such as Basilides and Valentinus. He also quotes heretical writers with approval. Nevertheless, he does not attack his readers, as he believes that Christians can learn from heretics. Ultimately, he argues that the Christian faith teaches them how to live. But what makes him unique is his ability to make the case for Christianity in the face of challenges and adversity.
Ignatius
Ignatius, the God-bearer, is one of the most beloved Antiochian Orthodox saints. He is the third bishop of Antioch, succeeding his predecessor, Euodius, in AD 68. He is known as theophorus, which means “God-bearer” in Greek. As a follower of the apostles, Ignatius was personally ordained as bishop by St. Peter, and he is also mentioned in the book of Romans.
The orthodox church fathers consider Saint Ignatius to be an Apostolic Father, and celebrate his feast day on December 20. His authority was based on his life in imitation of Christ. He was known to fight with wild animals and soldiers on his way to Rome. This is one of the reasons that he is revered as one of the most influential figures in the Christian faith. In fact, he fought with leopards and soldiers throughout his life.
Polycarp
One of the earliest Christian bishops, St. Polycarp, is one of the most important figures in the history of the Orthodox Church. Born in Smyrna in the first century, St. Polycarp came from a family that was not particularly Christian, and received his faith from the Apostles of the Lord Jesus. The Apostles’ frequent visits to the young Church encouraged its growth, and their Epistles warned them of the perilous times ahead. At age 40, St. Polycarp was ordained Bishop of Smyrna, where he served for almost eighty years.
In the earliest Christian history, Polycarp was called Pagratius, in honor of his deceased father. The name means’much fruit’ in Greek, and is symbolic of the rich virtues that he possessed. Polycarp’s disciples, John and Arius, baptized him and introduced him to the bishop Voukolos, who ordained him as bishop of Smyrna. His disciples wrote a hagiography of Polycarp, known as the Martyr.
Basil
One of the early church fathers of the Eastern Orthodox Church, St. Basil was a monk and later became the Bishop of Caesarea. Influenced by St. Pachomius of Egypt, Basil defended the Nicene faith and worked with St. Athanasius of Egypt to fight against Arianism. In addition to his theological work, St. Basil also served as a pastor and teacher of faith.
Born in Asia Minor, Basil studied philosophy in Athens and Constantinople. He studied under Julian, who was later an apostate emperor. He was baptized in the Jordan River with Euvlios, and served as Bishop of Caesarea for ten years. His earthly life ended fifty years after his birth. As one of the early church fathers, Basil earned the title “Great” and is revered in Eastern and Western Christian communities.
